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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. TATE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ToY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,558, dated November 14, 1893.

Application filed May 3, 1893- $erial No. 473,363- (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN L. TATE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved toy, and consists of a body or object embodying features which when rolled in one direction will accumulate power to automatically propel the same in the opposite direction when the forward motion is arrested, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the drawingsFignre 1 is a sectional elevation of a device embodying my improved features; Fig. 2, a similar view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1.

A is a hollow spherical body or ballwhich will ordinarily be made in two separable parts, so that the operating mechanism may be placed in position -or conveniently re-' paired. The meeting surfaces maybe joined together by the interlocking beaded edges a a, or connected together in any other suit-.

able manner. An axial-rod Bis arranged on the interior and extends from side to side, the respective ends being rigidly secured in the inclosing wall. From this rod is suspended a weight C, by means of rigid com panion wires 1) b. The lower ends of'these wires are connected to the weight at diametrically opposite points, the upper ends of these wires being coiled loosely around the rod B, as at b, so that the weight may swing thereon but not rotate therewith. The collars d prevent the wires from spreading apart and out of line with reference to the weight. A drum or pulley D is rigidlymounted on rod B. An elastic spring cord E connects the weight and drum, as shown.

In operation, the ball is thrown or rolled across the floor which has the effect of stretching and winding the elastic cordon the drum until the force used in imparting the forward movement has been expended, when the tension and power stored up in the elastic cord will exert sufi'icient force to start the ball back, returning the same to the. point of starting, or even beyond in accordance with the tension of the spring cord and the momentum attained, so that the ball may continue to have an oscillatory movement for some time before coming to a state of rest. As long as the body is in motion, the weight and therefore, the center of gravity are held in advance of the axial center, thus assisting in the oscillating movement.

The rolling body may be of a cylindrical instead of the spherical form shown, and a metal spring may be substituted for the rubber or elastic cord.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is

In a toy device of the classdescribed, the

combination with a hollow spherical body, of a stationary axial rod, extending through the center thereof and having its respective ends fixed in the inclosing sides, adrum or pulley,

rigidly mounted on said rod, a weight, the companion wires, loosely attached at their upper ends to the axial rod and supporting said weight from their lower ends, and an elastic band, connecting the drum and weight, substantially as set forth.

JOHN L. TATE. 

